A worldwide perspective on large carnivore attacks on humans.

Area of Science:

• Conservation Biology
• Human-Wildlife Conflict Studies
• Ecology

Background:

• Large carnivores (Felidae, Canidae, Ursidae) significantly impact ecosystems but pose conservation challenges, especially when conflicts with humans arise.
• Human activities increasingly overlap with carnivore habitats due to population growth and range expansion, leading to serious conflicts.
• Understanding the drivers of these conflicts is crucial for developing effective coexistence strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze global trends and factors associated with large carnivore attacks on humans.
• To investigate the influence of socioeconomic and ecological contexts on attack frequency and severity.
• To inform conservation strategies for mitigating human-carnivore conflict.

Main Methods:

• Compiled a global dataset of 5,440 large carnivore attacks on humans between 1950 and 2019.
• Analyzed attack data considering species, geographic location, socioeconomic factors, and human activity.
• Examined trends in attack frequency and outcomes (injury vs. fatality).

Main Results:

• Reported large carnivore attacks have increased over time, notably in lower-income countries.
• Sixty-eight percent of attacks resulted in human injuries, while 32% were fatal.
• Attack triggers varied by region and human activity: recreation in high-income countries, livelihood in low-income countries.

Conclusions:

• Large carnivore attacks are complex events influenced by a combination of local socioeconomic and ecological factors, not solely by animal behavior.
• Effective conflict reduction strategies must be context-specific, addressing both environmental and human dimensions.
• Coexistence requires tailored approaches that acknowledge the diverse circumstances driving human-carnivore interactions.